Arctic technology laboratories

Project details

Total cost:

EU contribution:

Coordinated in:

Topic(s):

Funding scheme:

LFC - Access to Research Infrastructures

Objective

Description:

LARGE ICE MODEL BASINThe model ice tank is 78 m long, 10 m wide and 2.5 m deep. A deep water section of 12 m x 10 m x 5 m is located at the end of the tank. An adjustable shallow water bottom over the entire tank area allows the simulation of shallow water conditions. The motor driven towing carriage provides a speed up to 3 m/s and a towing force of 50 kN. An air forced cooling system generates temperatures as low as about -20 C. Model ice freezes from sodium chloride doped water at an initial ice growth rate of 2 mm/hour. The mechanical properties of the model ice are reduced by scale in order to simulate the natural icebreaking process when interacting with model ships or offshore structures. Direct observations of the tests are possible through windows in the bottom of the tank or by underwater video-camera systems.

The following ice conditions can be simulated according to Froude's and Cauchy's law for various ice conditions.ARCTIC ENVIRONMENTAL TEST BASINThe world-wide largest refrigerated Arctic Environmental Test Basin is 30 m long, 6 m wide and 1.5 m deep. The walls are specially coated to carry out tests on oil spill in ice covered waters. Special equipment provides the separation of oil from water. Basic research in ice mechanics and arctic marine biology can be carried out in the temperature regime from -20 C to - 5 C. Special features like wave makers, recirculating flume, current and wind generators are available.ICE MECHANICS LABORATORIES:The test basins are supplemented by refrigerated ice mechanics laboratories, which houses a triaxial testing machine (each axis is individually closed loop strain controlled. Special equipment has been designed and built for ice fracture toughness experiments. Equipment for ice crystallographic investigations as well as two shear boxes for the determination of internal shear properties of ice fragments provide the opportunity of sophisticated research.

Application:

Calls for research proposals for potential users will be published in the International Journal of the Royal Institution of Navel Architects THE NAVAL ARCHITECT, London, UK; Announcements will also be published in the newsletter distributed electronically by ArcticInfo which is administered by the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS), as well as on the web-site www.arcteclab.de.The proposal can be submitted to the Project Manager at any time.